PRINTER'S NO. 2693
No. 2043 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY WILT, ARMSTRONG, BAKER, BALDWIN, BIANCUCCI,
CAPPELLI, CLYMER, CRAHALLA, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, DeLUCA,
DENLINGER, EGOLF, FEESE, GABIG, GINGRICH, GOODMAN, HARRIS,
HERSHEY, HORSEY, KELLER, R. MILLER, MUNDY, NAILOR, O'NEILL,
PAYNE, PICKETT, READSHAW, REICHLEY, RUBLEY, SCHRODER,
B. SMITH, STERN, R. STEVENSON, J. TAYLOR, TIGUE, WALKO,
WASHINGTON, WATSON, WHEATLEY, WOJNAROSKI AND YOUNGBLOOD,
SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2003
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 23 (Domestic Relations) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, providing for adoption proceedings
3 relative to siblings.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Sections 2533(b) and 2535(b) of Title 23 of the
7 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:
8 § 2533. Report of intermediary.
9 * * *
10 (b) Contents.--The report shall set forth:
11 (1) The name and address of the intermediary.
12 (2) The name, sex, racial background, age, date and
13 place of birth and religious affiliation of the child.
14 (3) The date of the placement of the child with the
15 adopting parent or parents.
1 (4) The name, racial background, age, marital status as
2 of the time of birth of the child and during one year prior
3 thereto, and religious affiliation of the parents of the
4 child.
5 (5) Identification of proceedings in which any decree of
6 termination of parental rights, or parental rights and
7 duties, with respect to the child was entered.
8 (6) The residence of the parents or parent of the child,
9 if there has been no such decree of termination.
10 (7) A statement that all consents required by section
11 2711 (relating to consents necessary to adoption) are
12 attached as exhibits or the basis upon which the consents are
13 not required.
14 (8) An itemized accounting of moneys and consideration
15 paid or to be paid to or received by the intermediary or to
16 or by any other person or persons to the knowledge of the
17 intermediary by reason of the adoption placement.
18 (9) A full description and statement of the value of all
19 property owned or possessed by the child.
20 (10) A statement that no provision of any statute
21 regulating the interstate placement of children has been
22 violated with respect to the placement of the child.
23 (11) If no birth certificate or certification of
24 registration of birth can be obtained, a statement of the
25 reason therefor.
26 (12) A statement that medical history information was
27 obtained and if not obtained, a statement of the reason
28 therefor.
29 (13) Whether there are any siblings in preadoptive
30 placement, the location of the placement and the
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1 circumstances surrounding the sibling's placement.
2 * * *
3 § 2535. Investigation.
4 * * *
5 (b) Matters covered.--The investigation shall cover all
6 pertinent information regarding the child's eligibility for
7 adoption and the suitability of the placement, including whether
8 there are any siblings in preadoptive placement, the location of
9 the sibling's placement and the circumstances surrounding the
10 sibling's placement, the physical, mental and emotional needs
11 and welfare of the child, and the child's and the adopting
12 parents' age, sex, health and racial, ethnic and religious
13 background.
14 * * *
15 Section 2. Title 23 is amended by adding a section to read:
16 § 2536. Siblings.
17 (a) General rule.--Notwithstanding any provision of law to
18 the contrary, if there is a sibling of the child in preadoptive
19 placement, the intermediary shall notify the prospective
20 adoptive parents of the child, via registered mail, of any
21 proceedings involving the sibling under this chapter.
22 (b) Hearing.--After termination of parental rights, but
23 before a hearing on the petition to adopt, upon petition of the
24 prospective adoptive parents of a sibling, the court shall hold
25 a hearing to determine whether the best interests of the child
26 and the sibling would be served by the child's prospective
27 adoptive parents adopting both the child and the sibling.
28 (c) Order.--After the hearing the court may enter any order
29 the court deems appropriate.
30 Section 3. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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